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Carle Illinois Dean of Research, Martin Burke, Named University Scholar

Martin Burke, Carle Illinois Dean for Research and professor of chemistry has been named a University Scholar, a program that recognizes excellence in teaching, scholarship and service.

Martin Burke, Carle Illinois Dean for Research and professor of chemistry has been named a University Scholar, a program that recognizes excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. Begun in 1985, the scholars program recognizes faculty excellence on the three University of Illinois campuses and provides $15,000 to each scholar for each of three years to enhance his or her academic career. The money may be used for travel, equipment, research assistants, books or other purposes.

Burke pioneered a new field of medicine called molecular prosthetics to treat currently incurable diseases caused by loss of protein function. To enable this field, Burke created a 3-D printer for molecules, and his recent discovery of methods for replacing missing proteins with molecular prostheses are steps toward new treatments for anemia and cystic fibrosis.

While at Carle Illinois, Burke has pioneered initiatives such as the Medical Maker Lab and has established Research Mentors from various University of Illinois faculty members to mentor Carle Illinois students in their labs.